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Aromas of blueberries, violets and roses turn to black truffles. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and great length. So gorgeous and persistent. It goes on for minutes.James Suckling | 98 JS(The 2013 Masseto is a wine of real vibrancy, clarity and precision. In some moments, the 2013 shows a bit of its voluptuous fruit, but it is rich, structured and clearly in need of time. Like all Massetos from cooler years, the 2013 is a long-distance runner. Give it time. A warm, dry summer helped the vineyards catch up after a late and irregular flowering. Cool nighttime temperatures provided the diurnal shifts at the end of the season that are so critical for the development of aromatics.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGThe 2013 vintage should be filed among Tuscany's cooler harvests, making this Masseto leaner and more elegant than powerful. That said, the dry, moderate climate of Bolgheri enhanced the maturity. This combination favoured Merlot-based blends - and therefore Masseto. Restrained plums, eucalyptus and gardenia give the nose an enticing character, while bramble fruits and dark chocolate unfold on the palate, ending with a bright liquorice finish. Creamy with great tension of youthful fruit, this is a dark, sculptural Masseto, very classic for cellaring. Drinking Window 2021 - 2043.Decanter | 97 DECThe 2013 Masseto paints a glorious picture of Tuscany. It captures an inspired moment in time and walks an impressive tightrope between power and elegance. In my preview tasting last year, I noticed the firm textural richness of the 2013 vintage and the crystalline sharpness of its aromas. Thanks to 12 additional months of bottle aging, that impression is evermore constant and concrete. The focus is there, yet the wine has also fleshed out and put on more velvety definition especially in terms of mouthfeel. It wears its pedigree with pride, but most importantly it offers the balance and integration to promise a long and healthy aging future. The 2013 vintage follows closely on the heels of the impeccable 2006 and 2010 vintages in terms of cellaring potential. This is definitely a bottle that should interest collectors.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPPure, cherry and graphite flavors abound, with a touch of herbs and spice. This is all about finesse, elegance and a linear profile that builds to a fine, expansive finish. Shows superb texture and harmony already. Merlot.—Non-blind Masseto vertical (October 2017). Best from 2020 through 2040. 325 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 97 WSThis polished, vibrant red opens with aromas of dark-skinned fruit, mocha, French oak, exotic spice and a whiff of coconut. The elegantly structured palate offers black raspberry, pomegranate, oak-driven spice and espresso alongside bright acidity and tightly knit, close-grained tannins that leave a firm finish. Give it time to unwind and fully develop. Drink 2019–2033.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

Dense yet agile Smith with dried apple, lemon, aniseed, and gunpowder aromas and flavors. Some stones too. Full body, very racy and fine. 90% savuignon blanc, 5% sauvignon gris and 5% semillon. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JSThis has a gorgeous feel, with opulent fruit offset by racy herb notes and acidity, showing lemon sherbet, shortbread and white peach flavors backed by a salted butter— and tarragon-laced finish, with hints of talc and fennel skittering in the background. Seriously long and still a touch youthful on the finish, this is one for the cellar. Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon. Best from 2017 through 2023. 2,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSThe 2013 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc offers a payload of grapefruit, guava and melon aromas that are beautifully integrated with the oak. The palate is fresh and vibrant, very harmonious with a hint of sour lemon that complements that subtle tropical tone. It slips down the throat with ease, completing a gorgeous white Bordeaux. If you are intent on buying just one wine in this off-vintage, this is the one I would load up on.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 94 RP-NMThis is still very young with taut, elegant fruit and a touch of savoury lemon sherbet on the nose. In the mouth, this boasts sweet pear, quince and citrus with a delicious touch of toast and oatmeal. Long and savoury, with a tingling acidity. Drinking Window 2017 - 2029.Decanter | 93 DECThe 2013 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is beautiful, but it is going to need time in bottle before offering its best drinking. Today, the 2013 is intensely mineral and tightly wound, both of which bode extremely well for the future. The combination of aging in barrel on the lees but blocking the malolactic fermentation results in a white of unusual texture, pedigree and pure class. Fans of the Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, and that includes me, will not want to miss the 2013. The blend is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris.Antonio Galloni | 93-95 AGStill tight, this wine needs time to reveal its potential. Hints of the tropical fruits, fresh acidity and light spice and toast remain masked for the moment, just needing aging. Drink from 2019.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

A firm and silky red with lots of currant, flower and citrus aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a long finish. Excellent for the vintage. Subtle finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 92 JSThe wine now in bottle has maintained the lively character found in the barrel tasting. Added to that is a firm structure, with layers of wood and intense acidity. This wine will age over the medium-term, so drink from 2019.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEWell placed black fruits, there is some austerity to the tannins and it is softer through the mid palate than you are going to find in this estate in more recent vintages, but it has a tomato leaf freshness and an appealing grilled cherry and woodsmoke aromatic that builds as it opens in the glass. Good stuff. A yield of 36hl/ha.Decanter | 91 DEC

This is very pretty with currant, plum and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, silky mouth feel and a savory finish. Bright and delicious. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 93 JSPart of the select group of impressive wines from this year, this wine is ripe, rich and firmly structured. Black-currant fruitiness forms the base for solid tannins and a concentrated texture. The hints of wood-aging need to soften. Drink from 2022.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThis has grip and focus from the start, with a lively brambly spine carrying plum cake, raspberry coulis and black currant flavors before yielding to an ample roasted apple wood note on the finish. A lightly tarry hint echoes. Best from 2018 through 2025. 11,667 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WSThe 2013 Léoville-Barton has a more backward bouquet compared to the Langoa-Barton 2013, but there is more perfume here with blackberry, a touch of sea spray and cold limestone. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin, a crisp line of acidity with finesse and elegance on the finish, which is one of the best you’ll find in Saint Julien. This finishes with a flourish after a conservative opening and it should yield a decade of pleasure, maybe more. This is a solid showing in a tough vintage.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90 RP-NMAlways reassuring to see an estate that succeeds in such a difficult vintage. This has some lovely gourmet touches from the oak, the smoky side being a real bonus. This is clearly going to be ready to drink earlier than any other vintage in this line-up, but it’s really rather lovely nonetheless. Drinking Window 2020 - 2035Decanter | 90 DEC

In an opulent style, this wine is full of ripe fruits and generous tannins. Juicy acidity gives it a fresh lift typical of the year, although this wine has a depth of flavor that promises well for its development. Drink from 2022.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEA sleek and racy 2013 with mineral, blackberry and currant aromas. Subtle and perfumed. Medium body, silky tannins and a clean finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 92 JSThe 2013 Léoville-Poyferre has a lovely nose with simple blackcurrant and wild strawberry fruit, maintaining Didier Cuvelier’s more opulent style while retaining delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with gently grippy tannin, good acidity and structure, not complex but with a very impressive blackberry and cassis finish that lingers in the mouth. Chapeau Monsieur Cuvelier - one of the best Saint Juliens this vintage.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 91 RP-NMOne of the top wines in the vintage is unquestionably the 2013 Léoville Poyferré, which has more purity, texture, and depth than most. With medium-bodied richness, lovely notes of cassis, smoky oak, and violets, moderate tannins, and notable purity and finesse, it’s ideal for drinking over the coming decade or so.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JDSaturated ruby. Brooding aromas of black fruits, minerals and coffee; at once medicinal and liqueur-like, but showing more freshness than usual in 2013. Huge but still raw at this stage, with rather large-scaled, mouthfilling flavors (for the year) of dark berries and flinty ripe plum, along with an obvious herbal element. Shows a boatload of chewy tannins but the persistent finish is dry but not parching.Vinous Media | 87-90 VMShows good energy, with a vibrant, brambly spine that drives the plum cake, steeped currant and licorice flavors along. A solid bolt of singed apple wood pins down the finish. Best from 2017 through 2023. 12,894 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

This wine is smooth, ripe with fine tannins and red plum and black-currant fruits that are soft and gentle. Acidity dominates at this stage, supported by the tannins. It brings out the fruit and freshness of the year while also keeping some structure from the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WE(Château Margaux, Margaux, Red) Lovely fragrant nose; floral-sweet, the perfume of Margaux. A textbook Margaux with a hint of Musigny, all delicacy and purity with an undeniable sense of place. (Drink between 2018-2035)Decanter | 94 DECA firm and tight Margaux with structure and elegance. Full bodied and tight. Lovely silky tannins and layers of texture and flavor. Currant and chocolate undertones. 94% cabernet sauvignon, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot. Drink in 2018.James Suckling | 94 JS(94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot): Full, deep red. Restrained but very deep aromas of blueberry, redcurrant and quinine; a real step up in concentration from the Pavillon Rouge. Sharply focused and gripping in the mouth, with enticingly sappy, creamy red and dark berry flavors complicated by minty tobacco and sweet spices. Finishes very broad and long, with suave tannins and a lingering impression of vibrancy.Vinous Media | 89-92 VMThe 2013 Château Margaux has an attractive bouquet that compared to fellow recent vintages appears earthy in style (as it appeared in barrel), offering a mixture of black and red fruit, bay leaf and cedar. The Cabernet Sauvignon comes through strongly - no surprise given that there is 97% of the final blend! The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a pleasing seam of acidity. It is not the greatest Château Margaux that the late Paul Pontallier ever made, but it is commendable for the vintage and there is a sense of harmony and composure towards the finish with hints of black pepper and mint lingering on the aftertaste. Enjoy this over the next 15 years, though I am not sure it has the substance to warrant maturation for a longer period.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 91 RP-NMThis is velvety and suave, with alluring fresh plum, sleek cassis and warmed raspberry coulis flavors that are nicely melded together, picking up rooibos tea, singed sandalwood and mineral accents through the lovely finish. Refined and approachable already, but has enough range and length for cellaring. A wine of style. Best from 2017 through 2025. 10,833 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

This is a vivid wine with terrific clarity and vibrance aromas and flavors. Full body, ultra fine tannins and a long, long finish. Class. Really superb for the vintage. Needs two or three years of bottle age to soften.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2013 L’Eglise Clinet has a very precise, tightly wound bouquet with limestone-tinged, brambly red berry fruit, the Merlot still very expressive and imparting comely floral scents. There is something almost Burgundy-like about the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin surrounding a core of citrus-fresh, lively red fruit, silky smooth in texture, approachable in style, with an almost symmetrical finish. This was a great L’Eglise-Clinet in barrel in the context of the vintage and it remains a very persuasive wine in bottle. Bravo Denis Durantou - a winemaker that can overcome even the most deplorable of growing seasons.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 94 RP-NM93–95. Barrel Sample. A rich and structured wine, this combines both the ripeness of mature Merlot and a solid, dry texture. It’s full, with a good future.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEWell-rendered, with sleek raspberry and blackberry coulis notes, presenting a backdrop of anise and warm fruitcake flavors and a fleshy, polished finish. Pure and lengthy.Wine Spectator | 89-92 WSUnusual concentration for the year. Aromatic persistence with complex, exotic notes. Lovely suave texture. Ample fine-grained tannins. Good length.Decanter | 91 DEC

With a higher proportion of Merlot (92%) than usual, this is a round, ripe wine released at just 20% of normal production. The generous texture and tannins are well integrated into the rich fruit. It's juicy, broad and showing the typical acidity of the vintage. With its tannic structure, the wine will age well. Drink from 2020.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEThe 2013 Vieux Château Certan has plentiful fruit on the nose considering the vintage: raspberry coulis, crushed strawberry and a touch of blackcurrant pastilles. The palate is medium-bodied and while it might not rank with the greatest VCC's of recent years in terms of complexity, there is admirable depth and purity with a crisp, almost edgy finish that leaves you wanting another sip. This comes recommended for the vintage and I suspect it will give 12-15 years of drinking pleasure.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 92 RP-NMVery enticing, featuring crushed boysenberry and raspberry fruit, accented by fruitcake, black tea and bramble notes. Shows excellent length and energy for the vintage, with enough stuffing for the cellar. This has developed grip since the barrel tasting. Best from 2018 through 2028. 1,665 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSLess than 1,000 cases, 4,000 in a normal year. Mainly (92%) Merlot. Suave texture. Rich and ripe. Structured palate but a little less definition. Very good all the same. Drinking Window 2020 - 2035.Decanter | 91 DECThis is soft and silky with chocolate, orange peel and dust. Medium body, round and light tannins. Fresh finish. Drink now.James Suckling | 91 JSThe 2013 Vieux Château Certan is another very fine vintage for Alexandre Thienpont, one of the best on the Right Bank. Blackcurrant and raspberry on the nose, not complex but pure and open. The palate is medium-bodied with decent depth, no signs of any greenness and a finish with just the right amount of dryness. This is an earlier drinking VCC but enjoyable.Vinous Media | 90 VM

Consultant Denis Dubourdieu has made the most of the difficult vintage, bringing out the fruit and ripe black-currant flavors. This balanced wine will develop attractively and quickly. Drink from 2019.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WEThe 2013 Batailley has a relatively backward bouquet, however, there is respectable fruit concentration here for the vintage: blackberry, cedar and cigar box, your typical traits for this estate. The palate offers commendable weight and extraction: not a Batailley of finesse or even complexity, though one with a modicum of presence and substance. Given this is a 2013 there is negligible under-ripeness on the tensile and almost steely finish. I can see this giving 10-15 years of pleasure and it represents a very commendable wine in the context of the growing season.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90 RP-NMA fine and balanced red with currants, chocolate and cedar character. Full to medium body, refined texture and very harmonious. Unique blend for this estate; 94% cabernet sauvignon and the rest in merlot and petit verdot. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 90 JS

This is a structured wine, firm with tannins and still showing some of the wood-aging. Red-berry fruits are cut with crisper blueberries and considerable acidity. This is going to be a firm wine that is lightened by the fruit, and a very good representative of the vintage. Drink from 2020.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEDark cherries, tobacco, scorched earth, smoke and game inform the 2013 Clerc-Milon. The 2013 possesses good depth and intensity, although the tannins are a bit rough around the edges at this stage. In 2013 the blend is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere, harvested between October 1 and October 9. Tasted twice.Antonio Galloni | 88-90 AGDeep colour and firm fruit both on nose and palate, good structure and weight and fine vineyard character, good future. Drinking Window 2019 - 2030.Decanter | 90 DECA firm and silky red with currant, chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. Medium body, integrated and delicious. Pretty sweetness of fruit on the finish. Drink now.James Suckling | 90 JS

Bright aromas of sliced mangoes, papaya, botrytis, and lemon follow through to a full body. Medium sweet with a phenolic palate that gives the wine structure and beauty. Electric acidity and freshness combined with impressive energy and length. A strict selection was made. 40% of the production was destined to the grand vin. About 80,000 bottles made. This is 70% semillion and 30% sauvignon blanc. Better in 2018.James Suckling | 98 JSLightly toasted marshmallow and macadamia nut aromas lead the way, followed by incredibly juicy mirabelle plum, green fig, and glazed pear and peach flavors. As big as this is, there are still plenty of honeysuckle, quinine and chamomile notes kicking the finish into yet another gear. This has purity and length to burn, with decades more to go. Best from 2020 through 2050. 6,665 cases made.Wine Spectator | 98 WSFirstly, you notice the color, which is a touch deeper than recent vintages at this stage. The bouquet is quite honeyed and rich for Yquem at this early juncture, with subtle scents of peach skin, white flowers, and a puff of chalk and frangipane. The palate is viscous on the entry, all about the texture at first, coating the mouth with luscious botrytized fruit. There are touches of Seville orange marmalade, fresh apricot, a hint of spice and passion fruit. This is imbued with impressive depth and weight, perhaps an Yquem that is determined to make an impression after last year-s absence. It might not possess the finesse of a top flight Yquem, but it has immense power and persistency.A majority of the 2013 Chateau d-Yquem was picked between September 25 and October 2, augmented by a second trie on October 11 after rains had provoked botrytis and then a third trie from October 21 and 24, before a final pass through the vineyard at the end of the month. Winemaker Sandrine Garbay told me that all the lots were used, but only 40% of the crop made it into the final blend, which equates to around 70,000 and 80,000 bottles. During assemblage of different lots, the blend ended up 30% Sauvignon Blanc, a little higher than usual, and 70% Semillon, while the residual sugar comes in at 140gm/L, which is a little higher than average. The reason is that the fermentation stopped naturally at this level, therefore the alcohol is a tad lower than average at 13.1 degrees.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 95-97 RP-NMThe beautifully aromatic, honeyed scent leads into flavors of bitter orange and honey, along with extreme freshness. Notes of white peach and Rocha pear give richness to a wine that is not huge, but wonderfully balanced.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEExcellent intensity and density for this vintage, with ripe pineapple and mango flavours. High residual sugar at 140 grams per litre balanced by fresh, crisp acidity. Drinking Window 2021 - 2030.Decanter | 95 DECThe 2013 Yquem is a wine that I tasted from barrel but for some inexplicable reason, never in bottle. It was picked over four tries from 25 September to 24 October. There is 140g/L residual sugar. As it was a relatively late vintage, they elected to use more Sauvignon Blanc (30%) to engender freshness. I feel this does not possess the dimension of the 2011 on the nose, clean and crisp, certainly well defined, yet maybe just denied amplitude by the growing season. The palate is well balanced and pure, very harmonious with fine weight. Here, there is more complexity than intimated by the nose, lightly spiced with Seville orange and marmalade towards the finish. Fine. Tasted at the château.Vinous Media | 92 VM

This is real wine with a tasty and rich palate with chocolate, stone and berry. Medium to full body with refined tannins and a savory texture. A wine for pleasure. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSThe tannin structure of this wine is firm and dense considering the vintage, giving impressive concentration that contrasts with the ripe black berry and plum fruits that are beginning to show through. The wine is already balanced, the hints of wood smoothing the fresh, bright black-currant flavors. Drink from 2024. Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEThe 2013 Ducru-Beaucaillou, 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, is medium garnet in color. It skips out of the glass with bright, vivacious notes of raspberry preserves, dried mulberries and stewed cherries, followed by wafts of lavender, cinnamon stick, and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing and vivacious, with impressive intensity of red berry and floral notes supported by soft tannins and lively acidity, finishing long and lifted.The Wine Independent | 94 TWIVery suave from the start, with ample singed spice and black tea aromas giving way to alluring plum coulis and blackberry confiture flavors. The finish is polished but hardly shy on depth, as a lingering alder edge adds spine. Sneakily long, this marks a deft handling of the vintage. Best from 2018 through 2028.Wine Spectator | 92 WSMedium to deep garnet in color, the 2013 Ducru-Beaucaillou has an open-knit nose of warm cassis, raspberry coulis and baked cherries with touches of cigar box, dried herbs, underbrush and pencil shavings plus a hint of smoked meats. Medium-bodied, the palate has a firm, chewy texture and lovely freshness defining the red and black fruited flavors, finishing pleasantly grippy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RPFrom a challenging, cooler, rainy vintage, the 2013 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou nevertheless is unquestionably an outstanding wine, revealing a translucent ruby hue with no bricking, classy currant, tobacco, cedar, and damp herb nuances, medium body, ripe, integrated tannins, and outstanding length. This classy, satisfying effort will evolve for another decade.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JDFaced with a very complicated vintage, Bruno Borie managed to produce a rather delicate and fruity wine with cherry, rose petal, black berries, plums, and caramel aromas. There is no trace of pyrazine, which was not always the case in this challenging vintage. It has a juicy and quite fleshy texture and a taste that evokes tobacco and spices along with a touch of leather. This is now at its apogee but should hold well for another five years thanks to the quality of its tannins.Decanter | 91 DEC

(Château Lafleur, Pomerol, Red) In a difficult vintage like 2013, reassuring hands are what you look for, those with an instinctive ability to tease out the best possible from the character of the year. Weather wise things were pretty much the opposite of 2003, making for another interesting pairing in this line-up - where that was earliest harvest on record this was almost the latest, with everything brought in during October (unlike 2003 where every grape came in during September). The result here is not about weight but lift, nuance and sculpted berry fruits. It has a more softly spoken key than the 2010 or 2002, quite clearly, but there is complexity here, teased out in layers of medium-bodied but pure cassis and blueberry fruits. It’s a clear testament to the possibilities of this estate. (Drink between 2021-2045)Decanter | 95 DECVery pretty aromas of rose petal, lavender, black cherry and hot stone. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and enduring finish. A beautiful red for the vintage. Very LafleurJames Suckling | 95 JSThe 2013 Lafleur was one of my favorite wines from barrel because, as Baptiste Guinaudeau remarked when I visited the property, he did not try to make a Pomerol beyond what it could be. The nose might not possess the complexity of the best vintages of Lafleur, but it is clearly delineated and fresh, with blackberry and raspberry fruit, a subtle granitic scent tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, as is often the case for Lafleur, with crunchy red berry fruit and a stony, almost reserved but fresh finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is an excellent wine considering the growing season.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 93 RP-NMThe 2013 Lafleur, from the infamously maligned growing season, was picked entirely in October. It has a light and slightly monotone bouquet with mulberry and blackberry scents, a touch of briary and floral scents. The aromatics are nothing to be ashamed of. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, more Merlot than Cabernet Franc-driven, balanced if missing the complexity of most vintages from this esteemed Pomerol growth. Not bad, however it is not a long-term prospect and lacks the cerebral element that Lafleur often brings to the table. Tasted at the Christies’ Lafleur masterclass in London.Vinous Media | 90 VM

The 2013 Bellevue Mondotte is occasionally too brash on the nose... But not this vintage. It delivers on the promise that it showed in barrel and delivers licorice-tinged red and black fruit, iodine-like aromas that are both fresh and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with a candied, licorice-tinged opening, plenty of sappy red fruit, supple tannin and a clingy, blackberry and raspberry preserve finish that perhaps does not quite have the finesse of the 2013 Pavie-Decesse at the moment. Having said that, give this a couple more years in bottle and you should have an attractive Saint Emilion.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 92 RP-NMA dark, powerful wine, the 2013 Bellevue-Mondotte fleshes out with dark plum, cassis, grilled herbs, smoke and tar. This is one of the more powerful, virile wines of the year, but all the elements are in balance. The tannins will need some bottle age to soften, but I don’t imagine that will be much of an issue. The blend is 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2013, yields were just 9 hectoliters per hectare.Antonio Galloni | 90-92+ AGAromas of coffee bean, dark fruit and hints of mint. Full body, chewy and tannic. A little hollow in the mid-palate but should fill in with two or three years of bottle age.James Suckling | 91 JSForward, with ebullient plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruit flavors that pump throughout nicely, lined with light bramble and licorice notes. The toasty finish has good energy and freshness. Best from 2017 through 2021. 417 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Very, very impressive for the vintage with a dark fruits and impressive spice and mineral undertones. Full body, chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Tight and layered. Needs two or three years to open.James Suckling | 94 JSPowered by its structure and texture, this complex wine is dense, structured and firm. Plenty of dry and taut tannins dominate at this stage, but it is also full of fruit. The wine will age over many years while not being one of those vintages that will mature forever: the fruitiness will see to that. Drink this impressive wine from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEBlended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2013 Cos d'Estournel opens with notes of sautéed herbs, roast beef, potpourri, eucalyptus and crushed rocks over a core of redcurrant jelly, crushed blackcurrants, kirsch and violets. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers lovely freshness and a good amount of depth, textured by a chewy frame and finishing long and mineral tinged.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPRich colour, fragrant nose with fine aromatic complexity to come, robust and slightly spicy on the palate, leaner than usual, good long-term. Drinking Window 2019 - 2030.Decanter | 91 DECThis offers up some lovely fruit, with lilting aromas and flavors of plum, cassis and red currant, while black tea and lilac notes form an alluring backdrop. Very polished, with admirable length for the vintage, this only lacks a touch of stuffing in the end—but that's 2013 for you. Best from 2017 through 2022. 12,583 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

The aromas of Lafite in 2013 are complex and fascinating with cigar box, Spanish cedar, and dark fruit. Hints of hot stone. Full body, chewy tannins yet very polished and refined. Solid density on the palate. Very long and impressive. This needs three to five years to open. Very impressive for the vintage.James Suckling | 95 JSSuperb black-red colour, fine depth of blackcurrant fruit, all elegance, precision, clarity and class, total vineyard expression that will repay keeping. Drinking Window 2019 - 2035.Decanter | 94 DECAlmost entirely Cabernet Sauvignon (98%), this structured and dense wine is packed with concentrated dark fruits that are firm, showing intense acidity and freshness under the dark tannins. It’s classic Bordeaux, with fruit and tannins in equal measure and needing time. Drink from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEThe 2013 Lafite hits the palate with a burst of dark red and purple fruit. White flowers, mint and licorice all develop in the glass, adding layers of depth and complexity. Smoke, tar, cinnamon, graphite, dried violets and plums are all layered into the resonant finish. The style is up-front, textured and generous, with no hard edges and plenty of near to medium-term potential. The blend is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot. Tasted twice.Antonio Galloni | 90-93 AGFeatures a charcoal coating, along with singed bay and tobacco leaf notes, melding pleasantly with the core of lightly steeped black currant and bitter plum fruit. Shows ample length and depth, with the grip striding through the finish. This should be among the long-lived wines of this modest vintage. Best from 2018 through 2028. 16,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSThe 2013 Lafite-Rothschild is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and just 2% Merlot. It has a straightforward, focused, undergrowth and tobacco-scented bouquet, nicely defined if perhaps missing the complexity and nuance of recent vintages. The palate is supple on the entry with notes of tart cherry, wild strawberry and a touch of graphite. It is certainly approachable for Lafite-Rothschild, balanced, though missing structure and density towards the sappy finish. It is a lightweight Lafite-Rothschild that does improve with aeration as it did in barrel, yet it never scales the heights of the greatest vintages from this First Growth.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90 RP-NM

With great freshness, this is an attractive, fruity wine with final ripe berry flavors that are delicately leavened and given weight by tannins. There is already a drinkable balance from the fruit, although the wine needs more time to be in harmony. Drink from 2018.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WEFine purple-red, fragrant nose, expressive and even exuberant, a Pauillac with charm and good tannins for the future. Drinking Window 2018 - 2028.Decanter | 90 DECA fresh and delicious red with blueberry, spice and chocolate. Medium body, fine tannins and a clean finish. A beauty. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 90 JS

The 2013 Pavie-Decesse stands out for its sensual, layered personality and fabulous balance. Deep, savory notes meld into smoke, tobacco, incense, game, licorice and blue/blackish-toned fruit. Violets, lavender cloves, menthol and blueberries are some of the many notes that are woven into the opulent, expressive finish. Broad and ample on the palate, the Pavie-Decesse offers terrific potential for the future. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Total time on the skins was 34 days, quite long for the year. Tasted twice.Antonio Galloni | 91-93+ AGA pretty and aromatic Pavie-Decesse wtih roses, cedar, wood shavings and bright plums.Medium to full-bodied, firm and silky tannins and a bright finish. Finesse and balance. Better in 2018. But pretty now. Very similar to the excellent 2012.James Suckling | 93 JSThis is an aromatic wine, with great acidity and fine black-currant fruit. An undertow of tight tannin gives it structure, although the fruit is very forward.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThe 2013 Pavie-Decesse was one of my favorite wines from Gérard Perse when I tasted his range from barrel and it seems to be fulfilling that initial promise. It has a charming bouquet with lively redcurrant jam, strawberry and wild hedgerow aromas that are well defined and perfumed, almost floral in style. The palate is well balanced with sweet tannin on the entry, quite harmonious in the mouth, fleshier than many of its peers with a fresh, candied orange peel and spice box finish that is a treat. Enjoy this lovely Saint Emilion over the next decade.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 92 RP-NMAn extrovert, with a rambunctious blast of intense raspberry, pomegranate, blood orange and plum coulis flavors that race along, backed by brambly grip and a brightly lit backdrop of spice. Manages to pull as much stuffing and energy out of this vintage as possible. Not for everyone, but should improve with age. Best from 2018 through 2028. 500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Very enticing sweet tobacco, cedar, tar and blackcurrant on the nose with hints of black mushrooms and violets. It’s full-bodied with layers of ripe tannins that are still slightly chewy, but show poise and focus. Juicy finish with a berry, iodine and walnut aftertaste. Just a touch of austerity at the end. Savory. Clearly one of the top wines of this very difficult vintage, along with Margaux and Lafleur. Drinkable now, but better in 2024.James Suckling | 95 JSFirst things first - there is an undeniable enjoyment in finding a vintage of Latour's grand vin that doesn't need to be put away for a few decades, and it is smart of the estate to release this wine now, at eight years old, because 2013 is unquestionably a year that lacks the intensity and structure to allow long ageing. I tasted it both on its own, just opened from bottle, and over lunch to see how it held up. Smoke, floral notes and spice are the three main lines that you are going to find, and each one has its appeal. Expect raspberry, blueberries, cassis bud and cherry pit - all markers of a cooler vintage - together with a seductively intense level of retro-olfaction that brings in waves of peony, smoked tea, tomato leaf and rosemary aromatics. The Latour tannins build slowly over the palate, although they are finer than you find in most vintages, and overall there is a successful emphasis on precision and finesse. 31% of the total production. At the time around half of the main L'Enclos vineyard was in organic and biodynamic farming, and this was the last year with Penelope Godefroy as winemaker, before she headed over to the newly bought (and now re-sold) Right Bank estates of Vray Croix de Gay and Le Prieuré. Around half the usual production, no more than 5,000 cases, because the final yield came in at 25hl/ha. In my view, one of the wines of the vintage. Drinking Window 2021 - 2038.Decanter | 93 DECComposed of 95.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.4% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot, the 2013 Latour offers an open-knit, fragrant nose of licorice, sandalwood, rose petals and cigar box over a core of Black Forest cake, stewed plums, mulberries and redcurrant jelly, plus a waft of cast-iron pan. The elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate (13% alcohol) fills the mouth with intense red and black berry preserves layers, framed by evolved, soft-textured tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long and spicy. This vintage does not have the power and backbone of an outstanding vintage of Latour, but it is aging gracefully and, still possessing a lot of discernible fruit with plenty of tertiary pizazz, is absolutely delicious to drink right now. This sweet-spot stage is likely to continue for another 5-7 years, before the wine plateaus at a maturity peak and holds for a further 15+ years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2013 Latour is absolutely gorgeous. Of course, the 2013 is lighter in body than the norm here, but striking aromatics and silky tannins more than make up for that. A wine of total breed and class, the 2013 is a real pleasure to taste today. Naturally, the lighter structure of the year is impossible to escape. Even so, at eight years of age, the 2013 is just starting to show the first signs of aromatic nuance, and yet it remains a young wine. The spread of botrytis led to an early harvest, with the exception to some blocks on the western side of the enclos that were more resistant to conditions and were therefore picked later. This is a remarkable showing considering a little more than 2/3rds of the vineyards (for the Grand Vin) were farmed biodynamically back then. I can't wait to see how the 2013 ages. My opened bottle stayed fresh for a number of days.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThis delivers a very tightly focused beam of red currant, pomegranate and bitter plum fruit flavors that streak along thanks to finely beaded acidity, showing a hint of graphite through the finish and a beguiling black tea accent. Reveals a lovely sense of precision, maintaining cut through the sneakily long finish. Best from 2017 through 2025. 5,625 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSThe flagship 2013 Chateau Latour comes from a much more challenging vintage and is 95.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.4% Merlot, and a 0.4% Petit Verdot. It shows its more Cabernet dominated blend with a more compact, tight, reserved style that opens up nicely with time in the glass. Revealing a healthy ruby/plum color, it has classic Latour notes of blackcurrants, freshly sharpened pencils, smoked tobacco, crushed stone, and licorice. It doesn't have the depth, richness, or expansiveness to be considered a great Latour but is medium-bodied, has a focused, elegant texture, ripe, silky tannins, and a narrow yet lengthy finish. Given the difficulties in the year, this is certainly a success as the purity of fruit is spot on, the tannins are sweet and polished, and it has plenty of classic Latour character. It should drink nicely over the coming 10-15 years and have a gradual decline.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

This is excellent. Blueberry, black currant and stone aromas and flavors. Medium body, lovely density, fine tannins and a bright finish. A triumph for the vintage. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 93 JSExtremely easy to immediately enjoy the rich and ripe fruit character on the nose on this wine, it’s not got the complexity of some vintages but is delivering gorgeous depth of expression, charcoal, cassis, liquorice, heather, soft black pepper spicing, a great job in a tough year with a lovely touch of exuberance. One that will surprise people. (Drink between 2018-2028)Decanter | 92 DECOne of the successes from Pessac-Léognan, this refined, structured wine is singing already with its fruitiness. Ripe and forward, it is developing into a medium-bodied, perfumed wine that will be ready to drink relatively quickly. Drink from 2019.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEThe 2013 Domaine de Chevalier has a refined bouquet, laid back and languorous with blackberry, briary notes, a touch of bay leaf developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, quite edgy tannin, nicely balanced and fresh with a simple but harmonious finish. It’s the kind of 2013 that you’ll just enjoy as a fine Claret, leaving you with a smile on your face. This constitutes a very commendable effort in such a challenging vintage, the bottom line being that it is one of the most pleasurable releases in 2013.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90 RP-NMThis has a dark, almost brooding persona, with plum, black currant and black cherry fruit, inlaid with an ample warm road tar note. Shows lots of smoldering tobacco on the finish. Slightly rustic tannins pinch just a bit at the end, but otherwise this is a gutsy and solid effort. Best from 2017 through 2022. 6,250 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

This generous, almost opulent wine has both concentration and rounded fruits. It’s open already, hinting at wood-aging while concentrating much more on the ripe fruits. Packed with fruit and tannins, it’s densely textured. It will age, of course; don’t start to drink before 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEA warm and delicious Mouton with light spice, currant, and hints of chocolate. Very subtle and refined. Full to medium body. Seamless tannins that dissolve on the finish. Wonderful length for the vintage. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, and 4% cabernet franc. Salty and delicately fruity. Better in 2020 but beautiful now.James Suckling | 95 JSSuperb depth of colour, black fruits nose with spicy notes, slightly roasted coffee and bitter chocolate on the palate, Mouton’s exotic hints, velvety texture, quite beautifully made. Drinking Window 2018 - 2035.Decanter | 94 DECA success in one of the region’s most difficult years, showing tension and energy to the mix of red currant and damson plum fruit, stitched with light anise, violet and bay hints. Has a slightly crunchy feel through the finish, typical for the vintage. Admirable flesh as well.--Non-blind Mouton-Rothschild vertical (March 2017). Best from 2021 through 2038.Wine Spectator | 93 WSThe 2013 Mouton-Rothschild has a conservative, straight-laced, tobacco-stained bouquet, nicely defined but lacking genuine depth. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, balanced with tobacco and red berry fruit, moderate depth with touches of dried herbs lining the finish. I can imagine this becoming approachable within a couple of years and yet the pedigree of the terroir percolates through with aeration. While not a great Mouton-Rothschild by any stretch of the imagination, this is a strong effort in a difficult vintage.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 92 RP-NMThe 2013 Mouton Rothschild is delicate, pretty and nicely lifted throughout, with a Pinot-like purity to its fruit. A distinctly lithe Mouton, the 2013 should offer fine drinking over the next two decades, or so although it is certainly not a blockbuster. Bright red cherry, raspberry rose petal and blood orange are some of the signatures. Seventeen millimeters of rain at the end of the season caused an outbreak of rot and resulted in a compact harvest between September 30 and October 9. Because of the wine’s mid-weight structure, Philippe Dhalluin brought the new oak down to about 80%. The 2013 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. This is the second vintage made in the new cellar. More importantly, the 2013 is far more impressive from bottle than it was from barrel. Approximately 45% of the crop was used for the Grand Vin.Antonio Galloni | 92 AG